If you want to know what goes with shrimp, go with your personal taste. The best side dishes and condiments are the ones you like.
There are certain things, like lemon juice or lime juice, that most people serve with shrimp because they enhance the flavor. In fact, I always include lemon and lime juice.
Easy Side Dish Ideas for Shrimp Dinners
Whether shrimp is the main dish or you’re serving shrimp cocktail before a meal, a great way to take dinner to next-level goodness is to offer the perfect side dish.
You can make grilled shrimp (from Southern Bite), fried shrimp, or this quick coconut shrimp (from Taste of Home). Another is this delicious broiled lemon dill shrimp. Whatever you choose will impress your guests who may be intimidated by cooking this popular shellfish.
But the best part is that it’s an easy dinner main dish. Add a few easy sides, and dinner is ready!
Granted, there are times when I’ve take the easy way out and served it with plain white rice or pasta. But that’s okay for a quick meal because not every single dish has to knock it out of the park.
However, if you’re cooking a special meal, you’ll want to make special food. And to be honest, it’s not any more difficult to prepare most of these dishes I’ve listed below.
Flavorful Condiments to Go with Shrimp
In addition to side dishes, you’ll need to add some condiments. That way, each person can choose what they like.
Here are some condiment ideas to include:
- Shrimp cocktail sauce
- Lemon juice
- Garlic butter
- Sweet chili sauce
- Green onions
- Juicy tomatoes
- Garlic powder
- Feta cheese
- Parmesan cheese
- Sour cream
- Barbecue sauce
- Hot sauce
- Red pepper flakes
- Variety of fresh herbs
Side Dishes for Shrimp Dinner
Next time you serve a shrimp dinner, include one or more of these delicious side dishes to make the meal even more special!
Mama's Easy Potato Salad Recipe
My mama’s potato salad was absolutely the best, no contest. Try it, and you’ll taste what I’m talking about. It has just the right amount of condiments and seasonings to give it flavor without overpowering the rest of the food on your plate!
Potatoes Au Gratin with Buttery Crumb Topping
This potato dish from Julia’s Simply Southern has a delightful cream sauce and other yummy ingredients that provide lots of delicious flavor. It’s a comfort food that you’ll want often.
Baked Sweet Potato Chips
Sweet potatoes are delicious no matter how you cook them. And these sweet potato chips are right up there with the best of the best. They’re the perfect side dish for your favorite style of shrimp. If you want them extra crispy, crank up the heat a few more degrees or cook them in your air fryer.
Creamy Macaroni Salad Recipe
If you like any of the creamy pastas you’ll love this yummy salad. As its name implies, it’s creamy, cool, and so refreshing! We also enjoy this yummy fresh salad at backyard cookouts and picnics!
Best Air Fryer French Fries
French fries are one of my favorite foods, so of course they’re on this list. They’re the perfect dish when you want something to go with shrimp. We also enjoy these air fried potatoes with burgers, chicken, and steak!
Air Fryer Corn Tortilla Chips Recipe
Crispy, crunchy, and delicious, you’ll be amazed by how easy it is to make your own tortilla chips. The main ingredient is a stack of corn tortillas, so it’s a very inexpensive but delicious side. Serve these chips either as an appetizer or with the meal. It doesn't matter because they're good no matter how you serve them!
Super Easy Homemade Salsa Recipe
If you serve tortilla chips, you’ll definitely need some salsa. This homemade salsa is another easy way to make the meal special. And even if you don't serve chips, this salsa is delicious on shrimp! Try it. You just might discover a new favorite way of eating seafood!
Simple Roasted New Potatoes
These simple roasted red potatoes from Southern Bite will please any palate. They’re liberally seasoned and roasted to perfection! There are so many ways to cook potatoes, and this is one of our favorites!
Charleston Red Rice
This delicious Low Country dish from South Your Mouth is a wonderful accompaniment to any shrimp main dish. Packed with flavor, you'll taste why people love dining in Charleston! Use whatever type of rice you have on hand. I think that jasmine rice makes it even better.
Roasted Vegetable Medley with Parmesan
Serve this roasted vegetable medley with parmesan from Julia’s Simply Southern with your next shrimp dinner. It’s sort of like a hot vegetable salad—even better than a cold one. Be sure to make enough for leftovers because you'll catch yourself craving them the next day!
Green Bean Casserole Deluxe
Using French-cut green beans, I take the classic green bean casserole to a new level of deliciousness. There’s a special ingredient that adds color and texture and enhances the flavor of the green beans. Good times will be even better when you serve this one. Bread crumbs are optional.
Greek Olive and Feta Salad
This is one version of a Greek salad that we can’t get enough of. It’s loaded with fresh vegetables, olives, and plenty of your favorite Greek seasonings! This is a delicious salad that you’ll want to make often because it goes with so many different main dishes.
Sauteed Spinach and Tomatoes Recipe
Colorful, delicious, and nutritious, this spinach and tomato dish satisfies on many levels. Serve it alongside a shrimp dinner or place the shrimp on top for a more elegant and interesting presentation.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Asparagus
Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. Add bacon, and you have one of the best sides ever made! Or you can serve it before the meal as an appetizer. And trust me when I say it’s a super easy recipe … because it is.
Peach Caprese Salad with Balsamic Reduction
This peach capers salad from Call Me PMc features simple ingredients that come together in a sophisticated way. The balsamic reduction is like the icing on the cake … only better. With a perfect blend of sweet and savory, it’s absolutely wonderful!
Creamy Coleslaw Recipe
This is an easy recipe for a delicious creamy coleslaw. And it’s the best way to have a salad that everyone will enjoy! Be sure to make double what you think you'll need because everyone will want seconds!
Watermelon Cucumber Salad Recipe
Cool and refreshing is the best way to describe this amazing salad. You’ll leave the table feeling satisfied but not miserably stuffed. This salad is also good with other fruits that are in season.
Soft And Easy Homemade Dinner Rolls
You no longer have to be intimidated by making bread. These homemade dinner rolls from Back to My Southern Roots are easy and delicious!
Easy Cloud Bread Recipe Without Flour
Light and fluffy cloud bread satisfies your desire for something to hold butter or jam. But it has absolutely no flour, so even people who follow a gluten-free diet can enjoy it.
Simple Southern Style Cornbread Recipe
This simple southern style cornbread is a popular side dish in the South. And there’s a good reason for that. It’s absolutely wonderful! Add a pat of butter or drizzle it with honey. However you like to eat it, you’ll want to use this recipe often.
After Dinner
Don’t forget about dessert. If you have a favorite, serve that. Or choose any of my family favorites listed below.
Special Desserts
Whenever you’re cooking shrimp for a special occasion, you’ll want to include dessert. I have a bunch of desserts that are easy to make and oh-so delicious!
Here are some desserts that are perfect to finish off a shrimp dinner:
Coconut Balls – This yummy but easy dessert is ideal for those times when you want a light finger food type of treat after any meal.
Pineapple Pie – Made with just the right amount of Cool Whip, this light and fluffy pineapple pie gives you just the right amount of sweetness to make your tastebuds very happy.
Scotcheroos – No baking is necessary to make these amazingly tasty scotcheroos. They’re a cookie bar that will have everyone asking for the recipe.
Hummingbird Cake – Make this cake from Out of the Box Baking to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.
Blueberry Sauce – This easy sauce is delicious on ice cream, pound cake, or anything you want to put it on.
Mint Chocolate Brownies – Cool, refreshing, yet decadently delicious, these mint chocolate brownies are a wonderful way to end the meal.
Lemon Bars – Tart, sweet, and all things wonderful, brighten up any meal by finishing it off with these wonderful and delicious lemon bars!
Level Up Your Shrimp Dinner
Serve one or more of the side dishes above to take your dinner to the next level. And if you want to really impress dinner guests, provide a little finger bowl of cold water along with a towel for each person.